According to Geoffrey of Monmouth, sometime in the 5th century Uther Pendragon lusted after Igraine, the wife of Gorlois, the duke of Cornwall. Uther's court magician, Merlin, used magic to disguise Uther as Gorlois, and Uther then lay with Igraine at Gorlois' castle Tintagel, on the northwestern coast of Cornwall. From this union, Arthur Pendragon was conceived. So, okay, we're Arthur geeks!
We decided to explore Cornwall after our time in Portugal for a variety of reasons. For one, we had to leave Europe because of Schengen visa requirements. For another, we thought the southwest of England would be warmer than the rest of the country in February and March. Lastly, we had an itch to investigate the land that resonates with King Arthur, Merlin, and the mystical early folklore of Britain. Neither Cindy nor I had any knowledge of Cornwall, other than some of the Arthur mythology, but it seemed like an intriguing place to visit -- and it was! The Cornish countryside is intensely beautiful, with rolling emerald green hills demarked by hedge-covered stone walls, sprawling swaths of moors, and soaring coastal cliffs interspersed with lovely sand beaches. Walking paths weave through the countryside and along the coast, carrying hikers through magical countryside, past areas steeped in folklore and myth. The Cornish folk are tough but friendly, quick to laugh and open to strangers. Every town has its share of pubs -- all dog-friendly -- and local folk gather to share stories and conviviality. We found our way through the countryside, visiting several interesting areas with vivid stories to tell.
We decided to explore Cornwall after our time in Portugal for a variety of reasons. For one, we had to leave Europe because of Schengen visa requirements. For another, we thought the southwest of England would be warmer than the rest of the country in February and March. Lastly, we had an itch to investigate the land that resonates with King Arthur, Merlin, and the mystical early folklore of Britain. Neither Cindy nor I had any knowledge of Cornwall, other than some of the Arthur mythology, but it seemed like an intriguing place to visit -- and it was! The Cornish countryside is intensely beautiful, with rolling emerald green hills demarked by hedge-covered stone walls, sprawling swaths of moors, and soaring coastal cliffs interspersed with lovely sand beaches. Walking paths weave through the countryside and along the coast, carrying hikers through magical countryside, past areas steeped in folklore and myth. The Cornish folk are tough but friendly, quick to laugh and open to strangers. Every town has its share of pubs -- all dog-friendly -- and local folk gather to share stories and conviviality. We found our way through the countryside, visiting several interesting areas with vivid stories to tell.
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Tintagel -- For a quick overview: |
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Gallery - For the whole story
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